Democracy has deep municipal roots

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

With a theme of “delivering democracy,” what better opening speaker than former Nova Scotian premier John Hamm on his year-long project promoting this province’s role in free government?

The Nova Scotia Association of Municipal Administrators held its conference in Greenwich Sept. 9 to 12, with over 100 municipal staffers attending.

“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the provincial system celebrating democracy as it was set up, but the municipal level is where we can see the most impact on people’s lives,” said convention chairman Mike MacLean, Berwick’s accountant.

“What better time than when our political members hit the pavement than for us to look at how well we deliver our services?”

Hamm brought along, “from the distant shadows of the 19th Century,” Joseph Howe himself, portrayed by Wolfville actor Michael Bawtree. “Howe” reminded AMA members of their role in government, to “lubricate the wheels” of the system “we fought many battles for in my day.”

Hamm, along with another former premier, Russell McLellan, are leading the anniversary year events in Nova Scotia, and further afield.

“This province is the place in Canada that shaped the course of North American history,” Hamm said. “Responsible government, freedom of the press, the first supreme court in North America - those are proud hallmarks of democracy, and they happened in Nova Scotia.”

Tying that to AMA representatives, Hamm said Canadians need to be reminded “voting in civic events is essential.

“Our municipal leaders are the most directly elected, and they make the decisions of local development, bylaws, property taxes. Nova Scotians are taking less interest in determining who will speak for them; young people, in particular, are shunning the ballot box.”

Hamm said barely 50 per cent of eligible voters turned out for a recent vote in Ontario, 44 per cent voted in a Cole Harbour provincial byelection and only 12 per cent turned out in a four-candidate race for a Halifax council seat byelection.

“The answer is getting more people actively involved in their communities: if they have a vested interest in decisions that will affect them, they are more likely to stay involved.”